Elisha Ongoya, one of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's lead advocates, has captured the attention of Kenyans for his passionate defense during the Senate impeachment trial. Ongoya's sharp cross-examination of the motion's mover and his meticulous dissection of the evidence has set him apart as a formidable legal mind in the case.
Ongoya criticized the motion presented by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, calling the evidence not only false but "ridiculous and embarrassing."
"Those of us who understand this motion for what it is, see why these panel-beating maneuvers are being tried here," Ongoya argued. He further described the motion as "the most embarrassing motion ever approved by a house of Parliament in the Commonwealth."
The motion, which charges Gachagua with 11 offenses, includes allegations of interference with Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) reforms. However, Ongoya pointed out that no official from KTDA had submitted any statements or evidence to back the claims, dismissing them as baseless.
"It’s just a claim. The mover asked the National Assembly to take his word, and they believed him," Ongoya remarked. He also questioned how the DP could be blamed for renovations to his residence, which had been approved and funded by the National Assembly itself.
Elisha Ongoya's Profile:
- Full Name: Elisha Zebedee Ongoya
- Profession: Advocate of the High Court of Kenya
- Position: Partner at Ongoya & Wambola Advocates, Nairobi
- Academic Role: Senior Lecturer in Law, Kabarak University, Nakuru
- Department: Department of Private Law
Ongoya’s legal expertise, combined with his academic background as a Senior Lecturer in law at Kabarak University, has earned him a reputation as a well-versed and fiery litigator, especially in high-profile cases like this one.